Cr Danita Potter - Community Portfolio Report - 19 April 2017

Libraries

This month the South Burnett Libraries’ launched the new “Rocket to Reading” Library Loyalty Program for children 0 to 12 years old.  This program has been designed to encourage children not only to use and visit the library, but also to be comfortable and confident in asking staff for help and support when needed.  After the first week, Kingaroy alone has seen 70 children sign up to this exciting program.

The school holiday activities have once again proven to be a success with an action packed couple of weeks.  One of the activities was mini-golf where six holes set up in and around the libraries with many budding golfers manoeuvring their way around the obstacles of the themed holes.  The range of ages proved to be no barrier as everyone joined in, cheering one-another on and taking pleasure in each performance, demonstrating the Aussie spirit.

The First 5 Forever program continues to grow momentum with Kingaroy and Murgon library staff partnering with the local community organisation BushKids for a Messy Play Day at the Murgon Kindy, where a pop-up library and story-telling session was conducted.  15 families were in attendance with information about our local programs distributed including postcards to collect the free parent toolkits from local South Burnett Libraries.

Kingaroy Library joined in the CTC Family Fun Day on Wednesday 12th April at the Kingaroy Youth Park with a pop-up Reading Corner with a large number of families joining in the fun activities.

The Kingaroy Library held an author talk by Noel and Del Bergman in March which proved very popular with 35 people in attendance for the morning.  The talk outlined their book “The Passage of Time” which details the 1865 voyage of the “Susanne Godeffroy” from Germany which brought to Australia ancestors of South Burnett families.  Many in attendance had distant relatives or knew of ancestors who travelled on this voyage and Noel and Del were kept busy with questions following their presentation.

The New Born and Family Drop-in service at the Nanango Library is gaining momentum with (7) mums and (7) babies attending making use of the services provided by the Child Health Nurses.

Another special story time at the Wondai Library was held for the Under 2’s from Mother Kate’s Early Learning Centre.  Also at the Wondai Library this month, the Outback Writer’s Festival was discussed at the Conversations Group Meeting.  This festival hosts a short story competition and is held annually in Winton, Queensland.  One of the group members had his short story published in the 2016 edition of “The Outback- an Anthology of Short Stories” which is a compilation of all winners in the competition.  

Community Grant Funding Update

The Regional Arts Development Fund round is currently opened.  This fund is for projects involving local artists and is offered by Council in partnership with Arts Queensland.  Applications close this Friday at 4.30pm.

Recently Council received thirty-seven (37) applications for the Community Assistance and Healthy Communities Grants.  In this competitive environment we (the Assessment Committee) undertook the lengthy process to review and assess the applications on merit.

It gives me great pleasure to announce the following successful applicants and their projects: